Blackhawks start Olympic break early as they slide in this week's power rankings

In this week's power rankings, the top teams remain red-hot while the bottom-end teams have begun to sell. These power rankings are determined mainly by a team's win-loss record, but also by their recent performance, injuries, and the strength of the week's schedule. For example, if teams have similar records or point totals, they will receive a higher ranking based on who they played and the margins of victory. Teams will also be ranked higher or lower depending on how they have played over their last 10 games.

The Past Week (1-3-0)

The Chicago Blackhawks began the week playing an uncompetitive game in Pittsburgh, losing by four goals. The lone positive to come out of that game was that Connor Bedard (one goal) and Frank Nazar (two assists) both found their way back on the scoresheet. Defense was nonexistent as they allowed the Penguins to have 45 shots on goal. The following night, the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets erupted offensively, as the Blackhawks once again faltered in the second half of a back-to-back.

The only win of the week came in the highly anticipated Bedard and Macklin Celebrini showdown. Both players scored a goal, but it was the line of Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Dickinson, and Ryan Donato that produced offense the entire night. This line scored three goals and had seven assists in a 6-3 win. Finally, the team looked unenthusiastic as they traveled to Ohio (as anyone would), and were shut out by the Blue Jackets.

Power Rankings

32 - Vancouver Canucks (18-33-6) (-)
31 - St. Louis Blues (20-28-9) (-)
30 - New York Rangers (22-28-6) (-1)
29 - Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9) (-1)
28 - Calgary Flames (23-27-6) (+2)
27 - Winnipeg Jets (22-26-8) (-)
26 - New Jersey Devils (28-26-2) (-5)
25 - San Jose Sharks (27-24-4) (-8)
24 - Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-10) (-4)
23 - Nashville Predators (26-23-7) (+3)
22 - Los Angeles Kings (23-18-14) (-4)
21 - Ottawa Senators (27-22-7) (+4)
20 - Florida Panthers (29-24-3) (-5)
19 - Washington Capitals (28-23-7) (+3)
18 - Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9) (+5)
17 - Seattle Kraken (27-20-9) (+2)

16 - Edmonton Oilers (28-22-8) (-2)
15 - Anaheim Ducks (30-23-3) (+1)
14 - Utah Mammoth (30-23-4) (-2)
13 - Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-14) (-2)
12 - New York Islanders (31-21-5) (+1)
11 - Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7) (+13)
10 - Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) (-)
9 - Detroit Red Wings (33-19-6) (-3)
8 - Boston Bruins (32-20-5) (-)
7 - Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6) (-)
6 - Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8) (+3)
5 - Carolina Hurricanes (35-15-6) (-2)
4 - Dallas Stars (34-14-9) (-)
3 - Minnesota Wild (34-14-10) (+2)
2 - Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) (-)
1 - Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9) (-)

Stanley Cup Favorites Keep Winning

Although the Colorado Avalanche have not maintained the torrid pace they opened the season with, they still hold a five-point lead atop the league. The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars have closed the gap considerably in the last ten games, as the Wild are 8-1-1 and the Stars are 7-3-0 in their previous ten.

In the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes have separated themselves from the other teams in the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions. The Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins in an epic four-goal, come-from-behind victory in the outdoor Stadium Series in Tampa over the weekend. They are 18-1-1 in their last 20 games, winning games in a multitude of fashions.

Lottery Favorites Begin Selling

We saw the stumbling New York Rangers trade their leading assist and point scorer, Artemi Panarin, to the Kings. The bottom-dwelling Canucks began their sale of players earlier in the year by trading Quinn Hughes to the Wild. It is expected that they will be moving more players, such as Elias Pettersson and others, as the trade deadline approaches.

Looking Ahead

The Blackhawks (minus Teuvo Teravainen) have three weeks to reset and recharge before the last two months of the season. Although the playoffs are not a realistic goal this year, they can build on some of the good play that they have had earlier in the year. Bedard can use this time to rest his shoulder more and see if he can get back to the scoring pace he had pre-injury. Additionally, the latest injury to Wyatt Kaiser is a tough blow, but hopefully, he will not miss any additional time after the break.

The Blackhawks will resume play on a road trip when they return from the Olympic break. They begin in Nashville (2/26) before heading out west. They take on the league-leading Avalanche (2/28), then travel to Utah the following night (3/1). Finally, they end their road trip in beautiful Winnipeg (3/3) before returning home. Until the Blackhawks retake the ice, we can all root on our fantastic men and women representing our country.